Method for repairing a rotor blade of a wind turbine

Abstract

A method of repairing a wind turbine rotor blade, in particular an existing wind turbine rotor blade, that has erosion damage or transport damage. A first region is ablated into a surface or a surface coating of the rotor blade. An adhesive is applied to the ablated region, an erosion protection film is placed on the adhesive and the adhesive is cured.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of repairing a wind turbine rotor blade which has erosion damage or transport damage, the method comprising:
 ablating a first region into a surface or surface coating of the rotor blade forming an ablated region around the erosion damage or the transport damage, 
 applying an adhesive as a levelling material in the ablated region of the rotor blade surface to level the ablated region, 
 placing an erosion protection film on the adhesive, and 
 curing the adhesive. 
 
     
     
       2. A method according to  claim 1  wherein the adhesive is a pasty adhesive. 
     
     
       3. A method according to  claim 1  wherein ablating the first region comprises milling out a recess in a surface or surface coating of the rotor blade or grinding the surface or the surface coating. 
     
     
       4. A method according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 applying a vacuum film to the erosion protection film and masking the vacuum film using a vacuum sealing tape at a milled edge or a ground edge, and 
 creating a vacuum beneath the vacuum film and curing the adhesive. 
 
     
     
       5. A method according to  claim 1  wherein the wind turbine rotor blade to be repaired is fixed to a rotor of a wind turbine during the repair.